Heather Boon (2025)
Published on 8/24/2025
Integrative Medicine: Proposing a New Framework
Heather Boon BScPhm PhD | August 24, 2025
University of Toronto - Vice-Provost, Faculty & Academic Life and Professor (Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy), Canada
ABOUT THE LECTURE
In this insightful presentation, Dr. Heather Boon examines the evolving concept of integrative medicine and proposes a new conceptual framework to support research and international dialogue on effective integration of traditional, complementary, and integrative medicine (TCIM) into health systems. Dr. Boon draws on the recently adopted World Health Organization's Global Traditional Medicine Strategy 2025-2034, which includes a clear definition of integrative medicine and positions integration of safe and effective TCIM international health systems as a core strategic objective.
Although integrative medicine is not new, its definition has remained contested within the research and policy community. Dr Boon's talk reflects on past efforts to conceptualize and study integrative models and highlights the need for a shared language and conceptual underpinnings to compare diverse approaches globally. Her framework encourages critical examination of assumptions in existing definitions and seeks to unify thinking around what constitutes "good" integration - thereby supporting research that can meaningfully assess impacts on health systems, policy, and patient care. The framework also aims to strengthen global conversation about research priorities that facilitate effective integration strategies across countries.
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